Diascia plant named ‘Diastusca’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘Diastusca,’ particularly distinguished by its scarlet-orange flowers and upright habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Diasciabarberae.

Varietal denomination: ‘Diastusca’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Diascia,botanically known as Diascia barberae.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination and is propagatedfrom cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘D0132-1’ and ‘D0065-1’. ‘D132-1’ is a coral flowering Diascia. ‘D0132-1’ is not commerciallyavailable and is not known by any synonyms. ‘D0065-1’ is a coralflowering Diascia. ‘D0065-1’ is not commercially available and is notknown by any synonyms. Neither ‘D0132-1’ nor ‘D0065-1’ has beenpatented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2002 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over athree-year period. It has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive propagations. The new variety isstable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

This new Diascia plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 8, 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Diascia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Diascia. The data which defines thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 10 week oldplants, cultured in 10.5 cm containers, and blossomed under naturallight in a greenhouse.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Colorreferences are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

Differences between the new cultivar ‘Diastusca,’ its parents and asimilar cultivar ‘Sun Chimes ‘Diastusca’ ‘D0132-1’ ‘D0065-1’ Terracotta’Flower color Greyed orange Coral Coral Deep coral Plant habit CompactCompact Vigorous, Vigorous, not not compact compact Flower size 18-2624-32 14-20 25-32 mm mm mm mm ‘Sun Chimes Terracotta’ is not known to bepatented.

-   The plant:    -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Diascia barberae.        -   Parentage.—Female parent: A seedling named ‘D0132-1’ is one            of our seedlings from our D-generation of plants bred            in 1998. Pollen parent: A seedling named ‘D0065-1’ is one of            our seedlings from our D-generation of plants bred in 1998.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Plant height.—14-22 cm.        -   Speading area of plant.—20-35 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.        -   Strength.—Very good.        -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching            at every node.        -   Quantity of branches.—40-60 branches per plant.-   The stem:    -   -   Diameter.—1-2 mm.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Color.—141C.        -   Length.—14-20 cm.        -   Anthocyan pigmentation. —Absent.        -   Length of internode.—Vegetative growth: 7-12 mm. Generative            growth: 9-15 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Not pubescent.-   The foliage:    -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite, decussate.        -   Number of leaves per lateral stem.—16-40.        -   Shape of blade.—Cordate.        -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth. Lower side: Smooth.        -   Attachment to leaf.—Petiolate.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Color of veins.—Upper side: 137D. Lower side: 137C.        -   Leaf margin.—Crenate.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf apex.—Rounded.        -   Length.—16-23 mm.        -   Width.—14-18 mm.        -   Depth of incision.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Upper side: 137A. Lower side: 137C.        -   Pubescence.—No pubescence.        -   Length of petiole.—2-3 mm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—1-2 mm.        -   Color of petiole.—182C.        -   Petiole surface texture.—Smooth.-   The bud:    -   -   Peduncle length.—6-12 mm, depending on season.        -   Peduncle diameter.—1-2 mm.        -   Peduncle shape.—Long and threadlike.        -   Peduncle color.—182B.        -   Size of the bud.—Length: 2 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.        -   Shape of the bud.—Oval.        -   Color of the bud.—181C.        -   Number of buds per lateral branch.—18-40.        -   Sepals.—Color both surfaces: 182B. Number: 5, parted.            Length: 1-2 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Shape: Elliptic, apex acute,            base truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.        -   Bracts.—Color upper side: 181D. Color lower side: 181D.            Arrangement: Sessile. Number: One underneath every pedicel.            Length: 1-3 mm. Width: 1-2 mm. Apex: Acute. Base:            Subcordate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth.        -   Pedicels.—Color: 182A. Shape: Threadlike. Length: 3-5 mm.            Diameter: Less than 1 mm.-   The flower:    -   -   Inflorescence length.—3-6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—2-5 cm.        -   Flower width.—16-20 mm.        -   Flower length.—18-26 mm.        -   Flower depth.—6-9 mm.        -   Flower aspect.—Tipped upward and outward.        -   Borne.—Solitary.        -   Form.—Zygomorphic, five lobed, double nectar spur.        -   Cluster.—Raceme.        -   Color.—Upper surface: 41A. On the two upper banner petals            there is a small yellow (color 9B) indentation just above            the reproductive organs. Lower surface: 41B. On the two            upper banner petals there is a small light yellow (color 9D)            indentation at the base.        -   Overlapping of the petals.—Separate.        -   Number of petals.—Five: two upper banner petals, two lateral            petals and one larger basal lip petal.        -   Shape of the banner petals.—Apex rounded, base fused.        -   Shape of the lateral petals.—Apex rounded, base fused, lower            surface modified into nectar spurs.        -   Shape of the basal lip petal. —Apex truncate, base fused.        -   Petal margin of all petals.—Entire.        -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Size of the banner petals.—Length: 5-7 mm. Width: 6-8 mm.        -   Size of the lateral petals.—Length: 5-7 mm. Width: 5-7 mm.        -   Size of the basal lip petal.—Length: 13-15 mm. Width: 12-14            mm.        -   Spur.—Length: 7-8 mm. Diameter: 1-2 mm at petal attachment.            Color: 41B.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—15-20.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Lastingness of the bloom.—New florets continue to open in            one raceme over a period of 12 days.        -   Lastingness of one flower.—About 4 days depending on            temperature.        -   Flowering season.—Depending on climate from March until            November.-   The reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: Three. Anther shape: Two-lobed.            Anther size: Less than 1 mm. Anther color: Yellow 7A. Amount            of pollen: Very much pollen. Pollen color: Yellow 7C.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1. Stigma shape: Rounded. Pistil            length: 3-4 mm. Style color: Green 141C. Stigma color: Green            white 157A. Ovary color: Green 141D.-   The fruit and the seed:    -   -   Seed set.—No fruit development nor seed set has been            observed to date.-   The roots:    -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Fine and freely branching.        -   Color.—Whitish, N155A.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 days at a            temperature of 21 degrees Centigrade is needed to produce            rooted cuttings.-   Physiological and ecological characteristics:    -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Plants of the new Diascia have not            been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to            Diascia.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants of the new Diascia have been            observed to tolerate temperatures from 0 to 35 degrees C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Diastusca,’ assubstantially illustrated and described herein.